Voluntary carbon markets: potential for social entrepreneurship?

The study examined the impact of performance based budget on projects effectiveness, quality and sustainability in Fako and Meme Divisions of the South West Region, Cameroon. Three specific objectives were formulated to guide this study. The objectives investigated the impact of performance based budget on the effectiveness of projects, the impact of performance based budget on the quality of projects and the impact of performance based budget on the sustainability of projects. Ex-post facto research design was used for this study. The sample of this study was made up 420 respondents comprising of service providers, beneficiaries of the projects and staff of the Regional Delegation of Water and Energy and the Regional Delegation of Public Works in Fako and Meme Divisions. A well validated structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and dependent t-test. Findings revealed that there exist a significant difference in the quality of roads, water and electricity projects before and after implementation of performance based budget with the quality of roads higher after the full implementation than before the implementation of PBB. There exist a significant difference in the effectiveness of road, water and electricity projects before and after implementation of water projects, and there exist a significant difference in the sustainability of road, water and electricity projects before and after implementation of performance based budget. The study recommended that the effectiveness of the budgetary system should be improved so that the quality and sustainability of projects will be obtained. Moreover, good budget begets good results.

Social entrepreneurship is one of the active research areas in modern economics research. This article analyzes the concept of social entrepreneurship, its meaning and the main prerequisites for the development of social entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan. The article describes the features and characteristics of social enterprises in Kazakhstan. The main purpose of the article is to analyze the development of social entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan on specific examples and determine its importance in the development of the economy. Determine the role of this industry in the country's economy and the factors necessary to improve it. Social entrepreneurship involves the proper use of resources to promote sustainable and inclusive entrepreneurship that values values. Therefore, since the concept of social entrepreneurship is still not fully understood, this area needs in-depth research. The main factors that distinguish social entrepreneurship from traditional entrepreneurship are the use by entrepreneurs of economic resources and social opportunities that are innovative and adapted to modern conditions. An in-depth study of social entrepreneurship requires determining its economic role and strategic objectives. The importance of social entrepreneurship and its role in the socio-economic development of society is very important, as well as the need to create a favorable business climate in this area. As a result of the analysis, the basic concepts of social entrepreneurship were clarified, the characteristics, features, and role of social entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan were determined, and its functions were analyzed.

"Social entrepreneurship has received a greater recognition now a days. It has become need of the hour for sustainable growth of the Indian Economy. This study identifies the opportunities and role of social entrepreneurship in reducing economic imbalances and achieving sustainable economic growth in India. Climate change and its consequences threaten the economic growth especially the agricultural sector. Unlike traditional corporate businesses, social entrepreneurship focuses on maximizing gains in social satisfaction, rather than maximizing profit gains. These enterprises are structured as both forprofit and not-for-profit entities. Social entrepreneurs have been calling for a better ecosystem in which their social ventures could exist and operate. This will help them formulate better strategies and achieve their dual objectives. Besides, Ethical element is important because leaders who are about to change the world must be trustworthy. Around 600 social enterprises in India affect 500 million lives, attracting over USD 9 billion in capital. India is the youngest start-up nation in the world with 72 per cent of the entrepreneurs less than 35 years old. Around 70% of the social enterprises work with individuals from socially and economically disadvantaged communities, 82% work with women, 31% work with people with disabilities, and 46% work with children. The study analysed various agricultural social enterprises in India, working to improve the productivity, market linkages, and farmers’ income besides addressing social, cultural, financial and environmental problems. Majority of the enterprises are clustered around Maharashtra and Karnataka, followed by Telangana, Delhi and Tamil Nadu. More than 50% of the social enterprises are focused on providing access to products and services."

Social Entrepreneurship and COVID‐19

Social entrepreneurship has been motivated by the reality that conventional for profit organisations did not have the capacity to address social challenges endemic to society. Further to this the notion of pairing social goals and entrepreneurship is paradoxical in nature. This chapter therefore presents the marketing of social ventures to address social problems. The chapter proposes that this will be done through an in depth understanding of where marketing and social entrepreneurship interact, providing clarity as to what social entrepreneurship is, indicating what is driving social entrepreneurship and developing marketing strategies for social entrepreneurship from the knowledge shared by various writers in the disciplines of entrepreneurship and marketing. Through a critical analysis of the writings of the various researchers the chapter offers a tactical tool to market social ventures and ultimately provide social improvement.

Social entrepreneurship has been motivated by the reality that conventional for profit organisations did not have the capacity to address social challenges endemic to society. Further to this the notion of pairing social goals and entrepreneurship is paradoxical in nature. This chapter therefore presents the marketing of social ventures to address social problems. The chapter proposes that this will be done through an in depth understanding of where marketing and social entrepreneurship interact, providing clarity as to what social entrepreneurship is, indicating what is driving social entrepreneurship and developing marketing strategies for social entrepreneurship from the knowledge shared by various writers in the disciplines of entrepreneurship and marketing. Through a critical analysis of the writings of the various researchers the chapter offers a tactical tool to market social ventures and ultimately provide social improvement.

Case synopsis The use of entrepreneurship to deliver profound social impact is a much-needed but poorly understood concept. While social enterprises are generally well understood, there is a considerable need to have a more common approach to measuring the different ways they create social value for us as well as to reduce the difficulties of starting and growing them in the difficult conditions of developing countries. In the northeast of Nigeria, for example, the mammoth challenge of rebuilding communities in an unfavorable entrepreneurship environment makes the need for a solution even more urgent. This case study illustrates a model of promoting entrepreneurship that advances the conditions of sustainable development goals (SDGs) in local communities using a configuration of the key theories of social impact entrepreneurship (variants of entrepreneurship with blended value or mission orientation, including social entrepreneurship, sustainable entrepreneurship and institutional entrepreneurship). The extent to which ventures can adjust and improve the extent of their contributions to the SDGs are shown using examples of three entrepreneurs at different stages of growth. From this case study, students will be able to understand how entrepreneurs can identify and exploit social impact opportunities in the venture’s business model, within the network of primary stakeholders as well as in the wider institutional environment with the support of Impact+, a simple impact measurement praxis. Learning objectives The case study envisions training students how to hardwire social impact focus in the venture’s business model (social entrepreneurship), how to run ventures with minimal harm to the environment and greatest benefit to stakeholders (sustainable entrepreneurship) and how to contribute to improving the institutional environment for social purpose entrepreneurship (institutional entrepreneurship). At the end of learning this case study, students should be able to: 1. discover an effective model for a startup social venture; 2. explore options for managing a venture sustainably and helping stakeholders out of poverty; and 3. identify ways to contribute to improving the institutional environment for social impact entrepreneurs. Social implications For students, this case will help in educating them on a pragmatic approach to designing social impact ventures – one that calibrates where they are on well-differentiated scales. For business schools, entrepreneurial development institutions and policymakers, this case study can help them learn how to target entrepreneurial development for specific development outcomes. Complexity academic level The case study is preferably for early-stage postgraduate students (MSc or MBA). Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.

Venturing activities focused on social causes has been called ‘social entrepreneurship’. This paper argues that the social entrepreneurship literature largely focuses on the similarities and overlooks the fundamental differences between social and commercial entrepreneurship, making the former only an extension of the latter. The paper suggests that the former is better differentiated by a designation of ‘social cause venturing’ as it elaborates a point of departure from the present literature. Through a detailed analysis of a social venturing case, the paper explores some of the tensions between social cause venturing and traditional entrepreneurship. It proposes ‘sponsor motive’ as the major discriminating construct and highlights other differences, such as performance assessment, between the two fields. The paper argues for social cause venturing as a distinct domain that is fundamentally different from entrepreneurship as we know it, and recommends a course correction of the theory building effort.

This chapter presents the role of social entrepreneurship (SE) in global business, thus explaining the practical and theoretical concepts of SE; the antecedents of SE in terms of cognitive desirability and feasibility of social entrepreneur, human capital of social entrepreneur, and social capital of social entrepreneur; and the significance of SE in global business. The competence of SE is powerful for modern organizations that seek to serve suppliers and customers, enhance business performance, reinforce competitiveness, and accomplish usual prosperity in global business. Thus, it is crucial for modern organizations to consider their SE applications, establish a strategic plan to review their attainable growth, and exactly respond to SE needs of customers. Applying SE will practically increase organizational performance and gain sustainable competitive advantage in global business.

The circular economy(CE) is a key player in transforming production systems and consumption habits in Western Balkans (WB) countries to tackle the challenges of climate change in a region that includes some of the most polluted capital cities in the world, such as Skopje and Pristina. The circular economy roadmap is one of the main priorities of the Green Transition in the region. Although circular economy practices in the WB countries are still in the early stages of development, there is potential for growth, primarily through the 5Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Recycle). The contributions of the circular economy and social entrepreneurship to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are well recognised, as they provide solutions to social, environmental, and economic challenges. However, there is a need to pair these two concepts more effectively and integrate them. While the circular economy focuses on financial and environmental solutions, social entrepreneurship compensates by offering social solutions. Social enterprises create an inclusive approach to the circular economy. On the other hand, social enterprises that adopt the principles of the circular economy can reduce their operational costs, add value, and create further opportunities for jobs and training. Social enterprises also offer more inclusive business models that prioritise the needs of local communities. Additionally, the transition to a circular economy presents opportunities for social entrepreneurship and social enterprises, including upskilling and reskilling the workforce, developing collaborative business models that target consumers, fostering innovative partnerships, and promoting advocacy opportunities. In the context of WB countries, social entrepreneurship and the circular economy are often studied separately, although research interest in both fields is increasing. Social entrepreneurship has been a crucial driver of social and economic development in these countries. However, the circular economy ecosystem in the WB region remains fragmented. This paper aims to investigate how social entrepreneurship can contribute to building a circular economy ecosystem in the WB region. The approach of this study is qualitative, based on case study methodology, focusing on one particular WB country, Albania. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with various stakeholders, including government representatives, academics, NGOs, and social entrepreneurs, between October and November 2024. The study presents a conceptual framework for the circular economy ecosystem, integrating aspects of social entrepreneurship, including social orientation, market orientation, innovation, opportunity recognition, and community orientation. The main contribution of this study is in linking social entrepreneurship with the circular economy. Received: 27 May 2025 / Accepted: 20 July 2025 / Published: 01 August 2025

The presented paper makes the analysis of differences and similarities between social entrepreneurship and corporate social responsibility. It describes the practice of business sector involvement in solving social issues on the example of two different forms of entrepreneurial activity (traditional and social entrepreneurship). The paper reviews in detail the features that characterize social enterprises and responsible businesses, and analyzes the importance of business involvement in solving social issues. The comparison method was used for the study, which focused on the research of social enterprises and corporate social projects. Specifically, social enterprises and social projects implemented by business firms with similar goals in the same geographical zone were selected and compared to each other. The study of the targeted social enterprises reveals that it is entirely possible for a company to achieve commercial and social goals with equal success. As a result, they can contribute to the resolution of social issues such as environmental protection, the employment of vulnerable and underprivileged groups in the open labor market, the development of innovative technologies, and others. Simultaneously, the study confirms that, given their nature, motivation, and goals, responsible business and social entrepreneurship have the full potential to exist and develop independently in the market. Social stability is a key indicator of success for any country, regardless of its social and economic development. Social issues play an important role in the formation of the business environment, on which opportunities for business growth and development highly depend. In the modern world, the role of business in solving social issues is significantly growing, a clear example of which is the UN's "2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development". These goals are of universal importance and represent the highest level of international efforts to ensure that we and future generations live on a more sustainable, safe, and secure planet. The business sector is one of the main stakeholders in the process of implementing sustainable development goals, which should contribute to the recovery of the economic environment. Companies in Georgia have varying opinions on the topic of business involvement in social issues. 34 out of 92 surveyed companies view corporate social responsibility as a capital investment, which can play an important role in attracting foreign investment, and 19 of them think that examples of company participation in social issues are influenced by emotional factors and are driven by spontaneous decisions. According to the same companies, social issues are outside the scope of activities of the business sector and are not a subject of their interest. It is evident that examples of business involvement in social projects are mostly observed in large corporations. At the same time, there is a growing trend of social entrepreneurship in Georgia. Since 2009, when the first social enterprises appeared, 66 businesses haven been identified as social enterprises. Social companies are crucial allies for the government and society, and contribute significantly to tackling pressing problems such as poverty alleviation, access to livelihoods, preservation of cultural heritage, environmental protection, health care, education, and others. That is why, social entrepreneurship, as a socio-economic and organizational phenomenon, has attracted the attention of scientists, representatives of business and government in recent years. Although social entrepreneurship differs from traditional entrepreneurship in terms of content, without in-depth knowledge, it is difficult to draw a line between a social enterprise and the enterprise that implements corporate social responsibility initiatives, which is further complicated by the unregulated legal framework of social entrepreneurship. Taking into account the aforementioned factors, the goal of the conducted study was, on the one hand, to gather information about the activities of social enterprises operating in Georgia, and on the other hand, to analyze the initiatives implemented by business companies under the umbrella of corporate social responsibility. Based on the information gathered, the similarities and differences between the two types of business involvement in social issues were outlined. The study also aimed to evaluate the prospects for the development of social entrepreneurship in Georgia. In the process of the study, desk and qualitative methods were used. Primarily, previous studies and literature were examined. Two focus group meetings were held as part of the qualitative research, one with representatives of traditional businesses that implement social projects and the other with social enterprises operating in Georgia. In order to illustrate the similarities and contrasts between the modes of their activities and the outcomes attained, social initiatives carried out by regular businesses and social enterprises were grouped based on similar content and scope. Due to the fact that social entrepreneurship in general and its development potential have not been thoroughly and widely researched at the academic level we will continue the research of the topic. In the following papers, the role of social entrepreneurship in solving the country's economic and social problems will be analyzed in more detail and the effectiveness of the model will be evaluated, particularly with regard to employing a diverse workforce. Keywords: Social entrepreneurship, a social enterprise, Corporate Social Responsibility, Business Social Responsibility, Responsible Business JEL Codes: L26, L32, M14

Social entrepreneurship has emerged as a viable approach of addressing the challenges faced by social minorities. Despite its growing importance, there is a lack of understanding of the factors that affect social entrepreneurs and their approaches to creating social value. This study aims to narrow this gap by examining the fundamental factors influencing the rise of social entrepreneurs, value creation processes, and the role of social entrepreneurship in addressing minority issues. The study used a qualitative, phenomenological approach and purposeful sampling to choose four informants who each had their own unique and representative traits. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and validated through documentary analysis. The findings indicate that the motivations for social entrepreneurship stem from both external and internal factors. Nevertheless, social entrepreneurs consistently prioritize social objectives as their primary focus. Research reveals that resource constraints often impede value creation in social entrepreneurship, hence postponing progress. Despite all the obstacles, social entrepreneurship has immense benefits for the entrepreneurs themselves and for the communities they want to reach out to. The results also show that larger impacts could have been achieved by social entrepreneurs through refinements in their business strategies, creative solutions to social problems, good relationships with stakeholders, and ensuring financial sustainability of the venture.

The need for the welfare of farmers and sustainable agricultural supply chains has become increasingly urgent in a market that often prioritizes profit over environmental and social concerns. Consequently, agricultural entrepreneurship through the role of social entrepreneurs in driving innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives is seen as a viable solution to address social issues among farmers and environmental challenges. In the effort to strengthen the welfare of farmers and the contributions of the agricultural sector, social entrepreneurs encounter various issues and challenges. A qualitative study was conducted with eight informants to explore the issues and challenges faced by social entrepreneurs in advancing their social missions to enhance the well-being of small farmers. The study revealed that a lack of understanding among farmers regarding the role of social entrepreneurs, limited capital and funding resources, insufficient government support, as well as challenges in marketing agricultural products and value chains are the primary obstacles hindering the comprehensive development of social enterprises. Furthermore, the absence of specific policies and regulations, inadequate infrastructure and access to technology, along with the level of knowledge and professional attitudes of social entrepreneurs, also pose significant challenges to the growth of social entrepreneurship. Therefore, stakeholders need to establish a more effective social system through collaborative strengthening in developing sustainable supply chains and value practices. This will enhance management effectiveness and create a conducive environment for social entrepreneurs to implement agricultural social entrepreneurship missions that positively impact farmers and communities, ultimately fostering an inclusive and sustainable agricultural sector.

Subject area Social entrepreneurship Study level/applicability Bachelor/master students. Case overview Women Empowerment through Local Livelihood (WELL) is a social venture that was founded in September 2005, by Danny Merguei. Danny was raised in Israel and had a long career in the corporate world as an auditor. After many years of work, Danny and his family moved to India. Shortly after the family arrived to the south of India, one of the biggest tsunamis in history hit the Southeast coast, on 26 December 2004. Many women who were dependent on their husbands as the family’s breadwinners lost them to the tsunami. Danny reacted to the situation by setting up a program to help these women. As the businesses expanded and the effects of the tsunami subsided, the focus of WELL shifted to women from rural areas who were interested in starting a shared business with a group of other women. Women who are selected for the training offered by WELL are guided for six months on how to create products made of recycled materials, such as household items and accessories. During the training, the women also take classes on how to run a business and on personal development. After the women complete the training, they receive a micro loan to start their own businesses. WELL monitors their development, offers business consultancy and quality controls assistance for the products. WELL also buys the products from the women and sells them to shops in India and around the world. The income generated by these sales is used by WELL to sustain and increase its operations. The women, however, are free to decide whether they want to distribute their products through WELL or find other ways to generate income. The mission of WELL is to provide empowerment tools and alternative livelihood to women. Behind it is WELL’s vision to see the status of women in the Indian society and their self-empowerment improve. Expected learning outcomes With the help of the case and literature students should understand/learn: Some of the differences and similarities between social and commercial entrepreneurship. The students should try to inspect where there is an overlap in social and commercial entrepreneurship (and how this is reflected in the thought-process and decision of the entrepreneur) and where the two separate. The importance of the social mission in social entrepreneurship. This is one of the crucial differences that exists between social and commercial entrepreneurship. The students think about the motivation that drives the entrepreneur. The students should think about the influence that the lead entrepreneur has on the social business, and how the two are linked. That a social problem can have different layers. The students should come to a realisation that sometimes the “real” or deeper problem is not so easy to see and can be obscured by other more exterior problems. About the complexity involved in building up and operating a social venture. The students should try to identify with the protagonist’s struggles while maintaining their own points of view. To have a critical perspective when making an important decision, and to be able to use and put together the relevant information. How to apply models, theories and concepts from the provided literature to answer the case questions. Supplementary materials Teaching Note 2 videos. Subject code CSS:3 Entrepreneurship.

This chapter discusses the role of social entrepreneurship in one of the long-lasting challenges of all cultures, women's empowerment. Empowering women is critical for development, and more importantly, it's a human rights issue. However, especially in developing country contexts, governments, international and non-governmental organizations may fall short to address the issue effectively. In this respect, social entrepreneurship may be an alternative to offer inclusive solutions. This chapter aims to generate a deeper understanding of how social entrepreneurship creates social value about women's empowerment. Following the qualitative methodology, a successful entrepreneurial initiative in Turkey, Çöp(m)adam is examined. Findings demonstrate that Çöp(m)adam contributes to both women's economic and psychological empowerment.